Statement from California Gurdwaras on Governer Gavin Newson's Veto of SB-509 (Caballero)
Published: October 17, 2025
For Immediate Release - Oct 17th 2025
The undersigned Gurdwaras, Sikh community organizations across California express our deep disappointment and condemnation of Governor Newsom's descision to veto Senate Bill 509 (Caballero). The bill was an unanimously supported, bipartisan measure that would have equipped law enforcement with essential training and tools to recognize and respond to transnational repression.
SB-509, authored by Senator Anna Caballero and sponsored in the Assembly by members Esmeralda Soria and Dr. Jasmeet Bains, addressed a growing threat in California: foreign governments and their proxies attempting assassination, harassing, threatening, surveilling, and intimidating residents, including activists, journalists and faith leaders for exercising their rights in the United States. The bill was the training and resources it would have provided to help identify and counter this form of foreign-backed intimidation.
By vetoing SB-509, Governor Newsom has dismissed the needs of law enforcement and ignored their call for critical tools to protect Californians. Instead, he has capitulated to pressure from Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and other groups that deliberately misrepresented the bill's purpose. His decision undermines public safety, emboldens those who seek to silence Californians through fear, and disregards the unanimous, bipartisan will of Legislature.
Once again, the Governor has shown a pattern of dismissiveness toward the Central Valley and now toward law enforcement itself. Rather than standing with Senator Caballero and the diverse communities and agencies she represents, he has chosen to ignore the voices of those on the front lines of public safety, while catering to a handful of bay Area special interests.
We extend our deep gratitude to Senator Caballero, Assemblymembers Soria and Dr. Bains and to the California Assembly and Senate for their unanimous passage of SB-509, demonstrating integrity, courage and leadership. their actions reflects the best of California's values: justice, equity and protection for all.
As Sikh Institutions committed to sarbat da bhala (the welfare of all), we reaffirm our commitment to defending freedom, human rights, and community safety. We urge the Legislature to introduce and advance SB-509 or a similar bill next year, and call on Governor Newsom to stop dismissing the legitimate concerns of both law enforcement, Californian's safety, and the Central Valley communities that deserve to be heard and protected.
Issued by Gurdwara Sahib Fremont 1 (510) 790-0177
Gudwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont
JakaraMovement
Sikh Coalition
- American Sikh Caucus Committee
- American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
- Sikh Federation USA
- Sikh Youth of America
- Gurdwara, El Sobrante, El Sobrante
- Gurdwara Sahib Hayward, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib, San Jose, CA
- Sikh Gurdwara Sahib South San Francisco, CA
- Parmeshwar Dwara Madera, CA
- Gudwara Sahib Roseville, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib Modesto, Hughson
- Gurdwara Sahib, Lodi, CA
- Silicon Valley Gurdwara, Santa Clara, CA
- Riverside Gurdwara Sahib, Riverside, CA
- Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Stockton, CA
- Gurdwara Capitol Sikh Center, Sacramento, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib Tracy, CA
- Gurdwara Nanak Parkash, Tracy, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib Livingston, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento, CA
- Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash, Fresno, CA
- Sikh Temple Yuba City, CA
- Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar, Sacramento, CA
- Gurdawara Anandgarh Sahib, Karmen, CA
- Gurdwara Sahib Turlock, CA
- Sacramento Sikh Society (Bradshaw rd.), Sacramento CA
- Gurdwara Sahib Manteca, CA
- Sikh Temple Merced, CA
- Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, Tulare, CA
- Gurdwara Guru Dashmesh Darbar, Bakersfield, CA